Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common endocrine disorder characterized by hyperandrogenemia and menstrual disorders. Patients not only have a high incidence of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, but also a high incidence of sleep disorders, especially obstructive sleep apnea. Obesity, hyperandrogenemia, insulin resistance,and other factors are responsible for the high prevalence of sleep apnea in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective To study the effect of different fraction interval with same total radiation dose on tumor growth delay and survival in C57BL mice implanted with lewis lung cancer,and to determine whether prolonged fraction interval will decrease the tumor response to radiation. Methods Forty-eight mice were implanted with lewis lung cancer in the back legs.When the diameter of transplanted tumor reached 0.8 to 1 cm,the mice were randomized into 6 groups:normal control group,single fraction of 18 Gy group,18 Gy in 2 fractions of 9 Gy at 30 min interval group,18 Gy in 7 fractions of 2.57 Gy at 5 min inter val group,18 Gy in 2 fractions of 9 Gy at 60 min interval group and 18 Gy in 7 fractions of 2.57 Gy at 10 rain interval group.The maximal and minimal diameters of the tumor were measured and record every other day to study the tumor growth tendency,the tumor growth delay and the mice survival time. Results The tumor growth delay of groups at prolonged fraction interval was shorter than the group with single fraction of 18 Gy (P < 0.05).The tumor growth delay of groups at fraction interval of 30 rain was longer than that of groups at interval of 60 rain (P < 0.05).There was no significant difference of the tumor growth delay be tween the groups with same delivery time (P >0.05).The mice survival time of the groups with prolonged fraction interval was shortened when omparing to the group with single fraction of 18 Gy.While the difference was not significant between the groups at fraction interval of 30 min and 60 min. Conclusions The pro longed fraction interval but same total radiation dose shortens the tumor growth delay and survival time in the mice implanted with Lewis lung cancer.The longer fraction interval impairs the tumor control more signifi candy.However the difference of the effect on mice survival time is not significant between the groups at fraction interval of 30 min and 60 min.

Objective By observing the changes in NGF and its receptor P75 in liver of CCl4-induced toxic rats and to evaluate the role of NGF in the mechanism of hepatic fibrosis.Methods The expressions of NGF mRNA and its receptor P75 were detecteded by both hemi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot analysis.Results The expressions of NGF mRNA and its receptor P75 in liver of CCl4-induced toxic rats at 24th hour group were higher than that in control group(P

Objective:To study the effect of ischemic postconditioning(I-postC)on the lung injury following ischemia-reperfusion(I/R)of skeletal muscle in the hind limbs of rats.Methods:The rat model of hind limbs I/R injury was established by subrenal abdominal aorta cross-clamping for 4 hours.Forty-eight rats were divided into 3 groups:I/R group,IPC and I-postC group.Each group received 4 hours of ischemia and then 12 or 24 hours of reperfusion respectively.The tissue morphology,wet-to-dry weight(W/D)ratio,malondialdehyde(MDA)and myeloperoxidase(MPO) of lung tissue were compared.The expression of ICAM-1 mRNA in lung was also studied by RT-PCR or in situ hybridization.The protein product was detected by Western blot.Results:In IPC and I-postC groups,all parameters decreased significantly compared with I/R ischemia group(P

As one of the serious complications of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy( DR) has become a main eye disease which causes blindness. The occurrence and development of DR is related to many factors. The pathogenesis is complicated, and the mechanism has not been clear. Early data suggest that the occurrence and development of DR has relations with many factors such as blood sugar level, diabetes duration and the environment. Among the factors, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress is the important mechanisms of DR and has become research focus in recent years. Consequences of mitochondrial dysfunction within cells include elevation of the rate of reactive oxygen species( ROS) production due to damage of electron transport chain proteins, mitochondrial DNA ( mtDNA ) damage, and loss of metabolic capacity. Clear understanding on the mechanism of mitochondrial functional change under high sugar level and oxidative stress response in the occurrence and development of DR is of great significance on prevention and cure of DR. ln this article, the development of mitochondrial metabolism and oxidative stress of DR is reviewed.

The deubiquitinating enzyme ubiquitin specific peptidase 15 (USP15) is regarded as a regulator of TGFβ signaling pathway. This process depends on Smad7, the inhibitory factor of the TGFβ signal, and type I TGFβ receptor (TβR-I), one of the receptors of TGFβ. The expression level of USP15 seems to play vital roles in the pathogenesis of many neoplasms, but so far there has been no report about USP15 in psoriasis. In this study, immunohistochemical staining of USP15, TβR-I and Smad7 was performed in 30 paraffin-embedded psoriasis specimens and 10 normal specimens to investigate the expression of USP15, TβR-I and Smad7 in psoriasis and to explore the relevance among them. And USP15 small interfering RNA (USP15 siRNA) was used to transfect Hacat cells to detect the mRNA expression of TβR-I and Smad7. Of 30 cases of psoriasis in active stage, 28, 24 and 26 cases were positive for USP15, TβR-I and Smad7 staining, respectively. The positive rates of USP15 and Smad7 were significantly higher in psoriasis specimens than in normal skin specimens (44.1%±26.0% vs. 6.1%±6.6%, 47.2%±27.1% vs. 6.6%±7.1%), and positive rate of TβR-I (20.3%±22.2%) in psoriasis was lower than that in normal skin specimens (46.7%±18.2%). There was a significant positive correlation between USP15 and Smad7 expression, and significant negative correlations between USP15 and TβR-expression, an I d between TβR- and Smad7 expression I in psoriasis. After transfection of USP15 siRNA in Hacat cells, the expression of TβR-mRNA was up I -regulated and that of Smad7 was down-regulated. It is concluded that USP15 may play a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis through regulating the TβR-I/Smad7 pathway and there may be other cell signaling pathways interacting with USP15 to take part in the development of psoriasis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate effects of the variation of immune function in high humidity environment in different time, and lay a foundation for further study of the related mechanism.

METHODThirty SD rats were divided into 3 groups (n = 10): 20 day group, 40 day group in 90% relative humidity chamber and control group in normal relative humidity. Peripheral blood and spleens were collected to detect the levels of T lymphocyte subsets by Flow Cytometery.

RESULTSIn peripheral blood of the 20 day group rats, the CD3+ %, CD4+ %, CD8+ % and CD4+/CD8+ were 52.91 +/- 6.27, 37.80 +/- 4.11, 14.85 +/- 3.73 and 2.72 +/- 0.82 separately. Expect CD3+ %, they all had significant differences (P < 0.05). In addition, the data of the 40 day group rats showed no diversity in statistics. In spleen, CD8+ % of the 20 day group rats was 6.23 +/- 2.87 with significant differences (P < 0.05) and IgG, IgA and IgM did not change a lot in blood serum of the high humidity groups except C3 of the 20 days group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn high humidity environment, the immune function of the rats increased in the initial stage. As time went on, the immune function gradually went to normal level through the self adjustment.

Based on the structure and motion bionic principle of the normal adult fingers, biological characteristics of human hands were analyzed, and a wearable exoskeleton hand function training device for the rehabilitation of stroke patients or patients with hand trauma was designed. This device includes the exoskeleton mechanical structure and the electromyography (EMG) control system. With adjustable mechanism, the device was capable to fit different finger lengths, and by capturing the EMG of the users' contralateral limb, the motion state of the exoskeleton hand was controlled. Then driven by the device, the user's fingers conducting adduction/abduction rehabilitation training was carried out. Finally, the mechanical properties and training effect of the exoskeleton hand were verified through mechanism simulation and the experiments on the experimental prototype of the wearable exoskeleton hand function training device.
Bionics ; instrumentation ; Electromyography ; Exoskeleton Device ; Fingers ; Hand ; Humans ; Motion ; Stroke Rehabilitation

BACKGROUND:At present, the main research fields about coronary stents are the whole degradation biological materials with high biocompatibility and drug control ed release systems.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety after the two novel biodegradable stents implanted in coronary arteries in porcine models.
METHODS:The normal ful y biodegradable stents were made up of the poly-L-lactide and the antiproliferative drugs paclitaxel, and the novel biodegradable stents were added in amorphic calcium phosphate at the basis of normal biodegradable stents. (1) Five normal ful y biodegradable stents were randomly implanted into the coronary arteries of five porcines, and five novel biodegradable stents were randomly implanted into the coronary arteries of the remaining five porcines by coronary angiography. The blood biochemistry and C-reactive protein levels were measured pre-operation and at 28 days after operation. Coronary angiography was utilized to observe the lumen unobstructed at 28 days after surgery. (2) Under a microscope, seven normal ful y biodegradable stents and seven novel biodegradable stents were implanted into right external iliac arteries of 14 rabbits. Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels were measured before surgery and at 28 days after operation.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 28 days after operation, there were no significant changes in porcine glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and C-reactive protein levels compared with that before operation, but urea nitrogen and creatinine levels were significantly higher than that before operation (P<0.05). The result of coronary angiography showed that no in-stent thrombosis or stenosis was detected in either group. There was no significant difference in urea nitrogen and creatinine levels in both groups. These results suggested that it is safe and compatible after the two novel biodegradable stents implanted in coronary arteries of porcine models, and the stents had good histocompatibility.

Objective To study the modulation in number and function of endothelial progenitor cell ( EPC ) in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome ( MODS ) after trauma in swine, and to investigate its pathogenesis. Methods Forty pigs were divided into sham group and MODS group ( each, n = 20 ). The model of MODS of two-hit injury, namely hemorrhagic shock and endotoxemia, was reproduced. The peripheral blood was collected before hemorrhage ( T1 ) and endotoxin injection ( T2 ), and 1 hour ( T3 ), 24 hours ( T4 ), 48 hours ( T5 ) after endotoxin injection. Phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase ( p-p38MAPK ) in mononuclear cell was determined by Western Blot, the content of tumor necrosis factor-α ( TNF-α) was determined with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ), and the number of EPC was determined with flow cytometry. Results Model of MODS was successfully reproduced in 17 pigs. In model group, the expression of p-p38MAPK ( A value ) peaked at T3 ( 4.83±0.52 ), and gradually declined at T4 and T5 ( 4.36±0.43, 1.93±0.33 ), and the expression of p-p38MAPK at T3-T5 was significantly higher than that at T1 ( 1.00±0.22, all P<0.01 ). The plasma concentration of TNF-α( ng/L ) at T3 in MODS group was obviously elevated compared with that of sham group ( 532.43±52.17 vs. 129.03±20.45, t=31.163, P<0.001 ), and it peaked at T3, it then gradually lowered, and it was significantly higher at T4 and T5 than that in sham group ( T4: 398.93±35.75 vs. 131.12±29.53, t = 26.562, P < 0.001; T5: 287.48±27.26 vs. 126.44±26.96, t=17.861, P<0.001 ). The number of EPC ( ×107/L ) was apparently increased in MODS group at T3 compared with sham group ( 4.832±0.624 vs. 3.545±0.363, t=9.542, P<0.001 ), and it peaked at T3, then gradually decreased, and the number of EPC at T4 and T5 was significantly lower than that in sham group ( T4:2.628±0.627 vs. 3.442±0.325, t=5.043, P<0.001;T5:2.203±0.711 vs. 3.471±0.323, t=2.972, P<0.001 ). Conclusion Phosphorylation of p38MAPK could increase the plasma concentration of TNF-αand decrease the quantity of EPC in MODS,which may be one of the mechanisms of MODS.